CD Review: Josiah Wolf

Jet Lag (Anticon)

March 03, 2010

After years of manning the drum kit for his brother's band WHY?, Josiah Wolf is ready to step out of Yoni's shadow. On his solo debut, Jet Lag, he proves he's literally capable of handling things on his own — Wolf played all the instruments himself in a secluded cottage near Cincinnati. Written after the demise of his 11-year marriage, the album's tone is understandably somber. But Jet Lag is more contemplative than most breakup records. It's almost as if Wolf is observing from outside: Rather than resorting to anger or bitterness, he illustrates the story in a cloudy, dreamlike state. Josiah's voice is similar to Yoni's in tone, but his delivery is more subdued. While his brother sounds like Tom Waits, Josiah is more like an awkward Simon & Garfunkel — "In the Seam" resembles "The Sound of Silence." Wolf's heart may be broken, but Jetlag's warm vibes show that his spirit is certainly not. — Eddie Fleisher